Key ring



Aug. 4, 1936. J. A. GUIDRY KEY RING Filed Dec. 25, 1935 Patented Aug. 4, 1936 NETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a key ring.

An object of the invention is to provide a ring for holding keys and similar articles and which will normally be maintained closed to prevent detachment and loss of the keys, but which may be readily opened when it is desired to remove or replace a key.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key ring that may be readily handled and manipulated into open or closed position by the use of a single hand.

It is another object of the invention to provide a key ring that will be very light and is of very simple construction so that it may be cheaply and easily produced.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side View of the ring in closed position, as in normal use.

Figure 2 shows a side view illustrating the construction for normally maintaining the ring closed.

Figure 3 shows a side View of the ring, partly in section, and showing the parts in position to release the closing link.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the ring, partly in section, showing the parts in position to reengage the link to close the ring, and,

Figure 5 shows an edge view of the ring.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral l designates the ring which is preferably circular in shape and. which is composed of suitable metal such as steel of the required flexibility.

The ring is open at one side. One of the free ends may be formed with an eye 2 to receive the link 3 and the other free end is overturned and retracted forming the hook 4 designed to engage through the link 3, as shown in Figure 1, to hold the ring closed.

As stated, the hook 4 is retracted and the link 3 is of such length that if pressure be applied in a direction perpendicular to the diametrical line passing through the open side of the ring, indicated by the arrows 5, 5, the hook 4 will engage against the eye 2 before the free end of said hook has disengaged the link 3, as shown in Figure 2 so that the ring will not be liable to be accidentally opened and the keys inadvertently lost; but if pressure be applied in a direction diagonal to said diametrical line, as indicated by the arrows 6, 6, Figure 3, the hook 4 will be forced against the eye 2 and also moved longitudinally of the free end of the hook through the link 3 until said hook is disengaged from the link, as indicated in Figure 3, permitting said link to drop down into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3 and the ring thus opened.

In order to secure the ring in closed position, pressure may be applied in the direction indicated by the arrows 6, 6, in Figure 4, thus moving the, parts into the same relative position, as indicated in Figure 3, and with the ring in reversed position with respect to the position shown in Figure 3, the link 3 will drop by gravity into position to be engaged by the hook 4 when the ring is released. The ring may thus be readily handled and manipulated into open or closed position by one hand of the user, but is of such construction that it is not liable to be accidentally manipulated into position to release the ring 3 from the hook 4.

The drawing and description disclose what is now considered to be a preferred form of the invention by way of illustration only while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A key ring formed of flexible material and open at one side, a link pivoted to one free end of the ring, a hook on the other free end of the ring engageable through the link, the free end of the hook being retracted, the free ends of the ring being arranged to abut to prevent release of the hook from the ring, upon contraction of the ring by external pressure thereon in a direction perpendicular to the diametrical line through the open side of the ring, said free ends being positioned to permit such release upon contraction of the ring in the direction of the plane of the ring by external pressure thereon in a direction diagonal to said diametrical line.

2. A key ring formed of flexible material and open at one side, a link pivoted to one free end of the ring, a hook formed on the other free end of the ring engageable through said link, the free end of the hook being retracted, the free ends of the ring being arranged to abut to prevent the release of the hook from the ring upon contraction of the ring by external pressure exerted radially thereon in a direction perpendicular to the diametrical line through the open side of the ring, said hook being formed to move longitudinally, with respect to said retracted end, through the link to permit such release upon contraction of the ring by external pressure exerted radially thereon in a direction diagonal to said diametrical line.

JOSEPH A. GUIDRY. 

